AT&T acquires Quickplay

In a move it says will enhance its next-generation video-delivery platform, US multi-play operator AT&T plans to acquire OTT video and TV Everywhere services specialist Quickplay Media from Madison Dearborn Partners. The acquisition builds on the companies’ existing relationship.

Quickplay’s platform currently supports AT&T’s U-verse TV Everywhere offering and will support the streaming offers — DIRECTV Now, DirecTV Mobile and DirecTV Preview — that AT&T plans to introduce later in 2016. These new plans will let viewers stream DirecTV content over the Internet to virtually any device.

“Our strategy is to deliver video content however, whenever and wherever,” said John Stankey, CEO, AT&T Entertainment Group. “Quickplay’s multitenant IP distribution infrastructure, combined with AT&T’s leading scale in IP connected end points, will allow us to host and distribute all forms of video traffic. We intend to scale and operate an industry-leading video distribution platform, and viewers will get the high-quality online video viewing experience they desire.”

“We’ve spent more than a decade developing an advanced technology and service platform that can deliver premium video content to any device and over any network. Our solution is highly automated and scalable. With AT&T, we’ll have the resources we need to further scale, grow the business, and continuously enhance that platform,” said Wayne Purboo, founder and CEO, Quickplay. “Our team is proud of what we’ve built so far and excited to join the AT&T family. This combination will help us power the next generation of video services.”

AT&T plans to retain Quickplay’s more than 350 employees and contractors. “Quickplay’s talented team of people is critical to our success,” Stankey said. “Their knowledge and skills are a key part of executing our video strategy.”

AT&T plans for Quickplay to maintain its high level of service and continue to support and expand its global customer base, grow its managed platform services and continue to enable other companies — from video providers to content distributors — to deliver premium video to any device and over any network.

The transaction is subject to pre-merger review under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act in the US and the Competition Act in Canada and to other customary filings and approvals. AT&T and Quickplay expect to close the deal in mid-2016. The companies did not disclose financial terms.